A Prayer of Confession for Voting

In 1 Samuel 8:4-20 we have the account of the people of Israel demanding that Samuel give them a king to “judge us and go out before us and fight our battles”. Yahweh consoles Samuel by saying, “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.” He then tells Samuel to tell the people what life will be like with an elected king over them.

he will take your sons to be soldiers to fight his wars

he will take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers

he will take the best portion of your labour

he will take tax you to support his organization

he will take your belongings and use them for his work

and you yourselves will become his servants

"Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day. Nevertheless, the people refused to listen.” 1 Samuel 8:4-20

Discussion:

Have we learned from their experience? As we read through the record of their history we see that everything that God had warned them about came true. Granted, God still carried out his intended plans but it makes me wonder how things would have turned out had they done things his way, with Him as their king.

Why would our election process be any different today? As one of those called out to assemble as part of His kingdom, have we been duped into voting to place another as “king” over us? I am no longer convinced that this is right, and not voting is only part of the solution. After every election, the successful candidate mails out a notice that he/she is now our representative in legislative affairs. This notice is actually an offer to contract. If we do not respond to that notice/contract within 10 days, that offer becomes binding. We must return the notice to them with a polite, “No thank you” and keep a copy for our records. Unless we do so we will have consented to their “king” being over us in place of our Lord and Saviour. Who will be your king?

The following prayer is given to begin to undo all we have done out of ignorance in the past.

Prayer

“Jesus (Yeshua), you are holy, just, and righteous in all your ways. No one is better suited nor do I want any other to lead and rule over me.

“I have sinned in my efforts to set over me those who would judge me, go before me, and to fight my battles in place of you. I was wrong and take full responsibility both personally and generationally for this sin. Please forgive me.

“Thank you Jesus, I receive your payment against this sin and now place myself under your authority and ask, again, that you to be my Lord and King and as such to be my judge, to go before me, and to fight my battles.

“As my Lord and King, please cancel the vows and remove every affect and influence that my sin of voting has had in my life and in those near to me. Please do so at every level in which I have voted including, but not limited to, municipal, provincial/state, and federal elections. Strengthen and make me aware me so that I will never again be drawn to participate in an election or, through my silence, to consent to allow those elected to represent me. I thank you Jesus (Yeshua), for removing these things.

“Teach me to love you above all and those around me to the same degree as I love myself and so to become a responsible citizen in your kingdom. Grant me the wisdom I need to effectively be an ambassador for your kingdom. I thank you Jesus (Yeshua), as you teach me and increase my wisdom.

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